Steam trap



Jan. 5, 1932. STRONG 1,839,999

STEAM TRAP Filed Aug. 10. 1929 INVENTOR Jay/[P Jmwva ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 5, 1932 1 siren stares PATENT OFFICE FT LESLIE P. STRONG, 01? LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGIIOR TQTHE CLARK -MANUFAC'IURING A 7 COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF vOHIO STEAM TRAP This invention relates to improvements in steam traps for removing from steam con taining appliances air and water of condensa.-.

M tion, but preventing the escape therefrom of M movable withthe trap cover, with consequent ease of assembly and disassembly and ready access to those parts, such as the valve and 23' steam. More particularly, the invention relates to steam traps of the inverted "bucket type.

The general object of the present invention a is the provisionofsuch a steam trap of the preferred inverted bucket type with a bottom inlet and a top or cover outlet; said inlet and outlet being in vertical alignment; in which all interior parts are carried by and its seat, which require periodical inspection, ad ustment or renewal; and which trap is of simple and inexpensive construction and esa pecially eficient in use, it being practically impossible for it to become airbound.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in: detail hereinafter.

In the drawing, the single view is a central vertical section of a steam trap embodying the present invention, the valve thereof being shown in closed position.

y The trap illustrated includes a one-piece, generally cylindrical metal casing 1 open at the top and into the correspondingly shaped chamber 2 of which steam, water of condensation and air may enter through the central ly disposed bottom inlet opening 3 in which is threaded an inlet pipe 4. The chamber of cylindrical upward extension 8.

two chambers, an upper, comparatively large f chamber 17 in communication wlth the test Application filed August 10, 1829. Serial No. 384,975.

and outlet openings 11, '12, respectively, and a lower generally cylindrical valve chamber 19. A suitable opening is provided in'the horizontally disposed portion of this cross wall for establishing communication be tween chambers 17fa'nd'19 and in this open-,

ing is threaded or otherwise removably se cured a very hard metal member 24 havinga central opening in which is removably secured, such as with a driving fit, a valve seat 28 of still harder metal. This valve seat is provided at its lower end with an outwardly extending annular flange 30 seating in a correspondingly shaped recessin the valve seat supporting member 24. The lower portion of this supporting member is enlargedto fit valve chamber 19, and due to such enlargement; this" supporting member-is provided with an annular shoulder 33 engaging the cross wall 15. The valve seat 28 through its flange 30 and the valve seat supporting member 2i through itsshoulder 33 therefore ef fectively resist the upward pressure of the" valve hereinafter described. To manipulatethe valve seat supporting member 24:, the enlargedlower portion thereof is provided with depending lugs 34, as indicated.

valve to the cylindrical wall ofchamber 19;

The lower end of valve rod 37 'is pinned or otherwise pivot-ally connected to an intermediate portion of transversely disposed lever 40 having its outer end pinned or otherwise pivotally connected to'the lower end of an arin 42 extending downwardly from the trap cover G into the trap chamber 2, said arm being arranged ber 19. 4 j V Mounted upon the inner end of lever 40 is an invertedkbucket L3, the movement of which in the trap chamber 2 controls the movement of the valve 36. Said bucket sub at one side of the valve cham stantially fills chamber 2 and to provide a firm connection between the bucket and lever 40, and to give the bucket suflicient weight, said bucket has arranged above and below its top portion a metal plate and a metal block 46, respectively. A screw bolt 48, having its upper end pinned or otherwise pivotally connected to the inner end of lever 40, extends through plate 45 and the bucket top portion and is threaded into an opening in the metal block 46. Since the bucket has some lateral movement in trap chamber 2, protecting rivets 49 or the like are preferably' mounted on the lower end portion of the bucket for engagement with the inner surface of casing 1, as indicated.

The object of the present trap is, as before mentioned, to remove from the steam appliance to which the trap is connected air and water of condensation but to prevent the escape therefrom of steam. Therefore, so long as there is sufficient steam in the trap chamber 2 to maintain the bucket 43 elevated, the valve 36 will be kept closed, as indicated. If there is no steam in the trap chamber, or an amount insufiicient to raise the bucket 43,

- the valve 36 will be open and water of condensation may freely pass out of the trap through the outlet opening 11.

Air entering the trap chamber 2 will not be condensed, as steam will, but will bubble out through the vent opening in the bucket top portion and will rise to the top of the trap. Steam will also pass through this bucket vent opening, but the radiation from the trap causes the steam to condense so that no steam collects at the top of the trap. By this arrangement, the air is collected in the top of the trap, changing places with the e water which enters the trap at the bottom.

1. A steam trap, comprising a chambered casing open at its top and provided with a bottom opening which constitutes the trap inlet, an inverted bucket float in the chamber of said casing, a cover for the top of said casing, said cover being provided with a hollow extension integral therewith and havmg a top opening which constitutes the trap outlet, :1 cross wall in said hollow extension dividing the space therein into two chambers, there being an upper chamber communicat- 5 ing with said trap outlet and a lower valvereceiving chamber communicating with the chamber of said casing, said cross wall being integral with said extension and having an opening therethrough for establishing communication between said two extension chambers, a valve cooperating with the opening of said cross Wall and movable in said lower extension chamber, and a generally horizontally disposed valve operating lever lying within the chamber of said casing and having one of its ends pivotally connected to a fixed support and having its other end pivotally connected to the top wall of said bucket float, said valve being connected with said lever intermediate the ends thereof, whereby vertical movement of said bucket float in said casing chamber efi'ects vertical movement of said valve with consequent controlling of the opening in said extension cross wall and the top opening in said extension which constitutes the trap outlet. 7

2. A steam trap, comprising a chambered casing structure having an inlet opening at substantially the centerof its bottom wall and an outlet opening at substantially the center of its top wall, an inverted bucket float in the chamber of said casing structure, a vertically movable outlet valve for controlling the discharge of water through said outlet opening, a generally horizontally disposed valve operating lever having one end pivoted to a fixed support and its other end connected to said bucket float at substantially the center of its top wall, and a test opening in the top wall of said casing adjacent said outlet opcning and overlying said outlet valve.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

LESLIE P. STRONG. 

